The ever busyDouglas Roadin Owerri has been partially taken over by street traders from within and outside the State. In some areas, the goods they display for sale spill into the highways causing it to become narrower and obstructing free flow of traffic.
There was a time special task force descended on their make – shift structures for displaying goods and destroyed many of them. But not quite three days later, the structures mushroomed and occupied more land space of the tarred road.
The task force should embark on this exercise again. They should extend the activities to indiscriminate parking of vehicles and keke along the busy road. These unlawful acts slow down traffic along the busy road. One of the street traders interviewed blamed the lawless act on the high cost of renting market stalls in Owerri markets. Some claim that their capital base is not up to 50 percent of the demanded stallage stressing that they have nowhere to sell their wares except where they are.
The Municipal Council should ensure that stalls in markets in Owerri are owned by genuine traders. Non traders with the capital acquire these stalls through long legs and connections and later rent them at exorbitant fees to genuine traders.
The Municipal Council should carry out strict verification exercise with a view to eliminating multiple ownership of stalls. The street traders cannot relocate to any of the three markets in Owerri because of this basic problem.
Government should look into this matter and bring justice to bear on it.
Nnenna Okoro
Ulakwo
